Invalid-bed



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-#Sheet 1.

LEBEN-ETT.

INVALID BBD. y No. 594,846)A PatentedjDec. 7,1897( (No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 2.. A. B. BENNETT.

INVALID BED.

Patented Dec. 7, 1897.

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No. 594,846. Patqgfed Dec. '7, 1897.

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ABIJAH BENJAMIN BENNETT, OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA.

INVALID-BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,846, dated December 7, 1897. Application filed May 18, 1897. Serial No. 637,055. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ABIJAH BENJAMIN BEN- NETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Opelika, in thecounty of Lee and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Invalid-Beds; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in invalid-beds,designed, primarily, to permit the invalid to assume different or various attitudes. It is also intended as an operating or surgical bed, wherein various positions of the patient are vdesired and may be secured with ease and comfort to the patient and with but little trouble to the operator.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the various parts,which, however, may beyslig` tly modified or altered in various particulars.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a convenient and preferred form of the invention, but I desire it understood that the form shown is simply for the purpose of illustration and that the invention is not ne'cessarily limited to the exact construction therein delineated.

Figure l is a side elevation ofthe bed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in section, showing the sections dierently adjusted from that in Fig. 2 and also showing in dotted lines still a different adjustment. Fig. 4: is a cross-section on the line :c x of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan view with the side bars M omitted. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the removable seats. Fig. 7 is a bottom plan of the spring-actuated slidesections of the bed-bottom. Fig. 8 is a detail view of a supporting-link. *Y

In the drawings, A represents the frame or bedstead, consisting of the usual sides and foot and bottom boards. Inasmuch as the bed is designed for surgical purposes as well as for invalid purposes, I have formed the foot-board in two sections, the upper section B being hinged to the lower section and adapted to swing outwardly to form a table or support, as shown in Fig. 1. To support the hinged section, I secure the top rail o thereof to the upper edge of the section by a central pivot, so that the rail may be turned into a section is divided and the two sections united by suitable hinges, the upper section being adapted to swing outwardly and downwardly. To maintain the head in a vertical position, I employ a prop B', which is hinged to the section B2 andv extends downward to at or near the head. The en'l of this prop is beveled, as at b', andwhen the hinged section is in a vertical position a beveled turn-button b2 is turned to engage over the beveled end of the prop,therebypreventing downward movement of the latter. When it is desired to turn a portion down to form a table, as shown in Fig. l, the prop is disengaged from the button, the sectionbeing turned down until the prop engages a stop or block b3, secured to head. It will be observed that by the peculiar conlstructionof the head and foot portions convenient tables may be formed.

The bed-bottom is composed of three independent sections C, D, and E, the former having a slatted bottom by preference, although a spring-mattressed bottom may be employed, as is obvious. This part C is secured to the side pieces of the bed-frame by a pivot-rod c passing through the same at or near its inner end and entering the sides. By this means the section C has a pivotal connection with the frame, and its forward or end portion can be tilted up or down in the various inclinations, as shown in Fig. 3. To maintain the section in an inclined position, toothed links c' are conveniently employed, the same being` secured to the sides of the section and adapted to engage with pins or lugs c2, secured to the sides of the frame. To secure the section C in its normal horizontal position, any convenient means may be employed. Iv have found, however, that a catch-hook c3 will answer the purpose well, the same being pivotally supported on the head-board and arranged to engage a pin or lug c4 on the end of the section C. The inner ends of the side rails of the section C are beveled, as shown at c5, for purposes presently to be stated.

The bottom section D is by preference colnparatively narrow and is` constructed with ledges or supporting-rails d, extending across IOO d tance between the rails which support the same, and on the bottom of each board I secure metallic plates d', pivotally securing the same to the board eccentricallygso that by turning the plates a portion thereof will be projected beyond the edge of the board and rest on the adjacent ledge. By this means it will be readily seen that either of the boardsections may be independently removed. rPhe forward end of the section D is beveled and is supported by links D3, which are pivotally connected to the sides of the bottom section C. These links are by preference broad in their construction and have on their under or lower edges an offset or flange cl2, which projects inwardly beyond the plane of the side of t-he section C, so that the links are prevented from moving upward, but are allowed a downward movement. The rear end of the section D is supported from the side rails by the links d3, the connection being made through elongated slots formed in the links and pins on the section passing into the slots.

In view of the particular means of supporting the section D it will be seen that some means are required to maintain it in an elevated position in line with the section C. To this end I employ what I choose to term sliding bolts, the same being mounted on the under sidesV of the inner end of the section C and designated by the letter II. These bolts are normally forced outward by a spring of any desired formation, but preferably such as shown at 7L, the same being of U shape and located between the inner ends of the bolts, its ends engaging in eyes h', formedon the ends of the bolts. When the bolts are forced outward, they take under the edges of the links D3 at a point in the rear of their pivotal connection, so that the links are held from downward movement and thereby iirml y support and maintain the section D in its proper position in line with the section C. To retract the bolt, I employ a cord or chain Il', which extends to the head of the bed, its inner end being divided and passing through an eye 71.2 on the section C, its ends being connected to the ends of the bolts.

By drawing on the cord the bolt is retracted, while the spring normally tends to reset the same.

The end or rear section E of the bottom is hinged at its forward end to the section D, the pintles e of the hinges being removable, so that the sections D and E may be easily separated. To maintain the section E in line with the section D, I, by preference, employ elongated bars E, the same being pivoted to the under lower edge of the section E and eX- tending for-wardto a point below the edge of the section D. By this means the sections are braced in uniform position, but by turning the bars slightly the end section E will be permitted to move or tilt downward on its hinges. Other means, however, may be employed for accomplishing this result. To secure the section E in its elevated or normal position and to relievethe bolts from overstrain, I employ a series of catch-hooks K, the same being pivotally secured to the sides and foot of the bed, their hooked. portions engaging suitable pins or lugs on the sides of the section. When it is desired to tilt the section E upward, as shown in Fig. 3, I employ toothed bars c2 for maintaining the same in its elevated position, the bars being in all respects similartothose employed in connection with the head-section C.

In operat-ion the bed is in the normal .p0- sition, as shown in Fig. 2-that is to say, the three sections in alinement. lVhen it is desired to lower the head portion of the bottom of the bed, which often occurs during the treatment of a patient undergoing surgical operation, it is only necessary to release the section C at the front and allow the end thereof to drop, and that will throw the head of the patient down. Vhen it is desired to raise the head without bending the knees of the patient, as would be the condition in the case of fracture, it is only necessary to raise the portion C to the position shown in full lines, Fig. 3, the portions D and E also assuming an incline in opposite direction, the parts being maintained in position by toothed braces. In the event that the patient desires his feet lowered it is only necessary to turn the locking-bars E at right angles, so that the section E will swing downward on its hinges.

It is often desirable to remove the 1nattresses, which are preferably in this instance made in sections. To accomplish this, suitable straps are stretched from side to side of the bed-frame, the ends being connected to rods M, secured to the side. The straps are stretched tightly across, having first vbeen placed under the limbs of the patient, and are then drawn sufficiently tant to support the limbs. lVhile the patent is in this position, the bolts on the section C are withdrawn and sections E and D are immediately dropped to their lower position, in which position the mattresses may be readily removed. It is often desirable to allow the patient to sit upright and at the same time to have a support for his back. This may be permitted by allowing the sections D an-d Eto assume a lower position an d then pnt the section upward, the inclined portions of the sections D and C permitting the section (l to assume a substantially perpendicular position. In this position the parts are maintained by the notched braces. y

It is to some extent usual in this class of inventions to have a table or reading-stand secured to the bed. I have devised an im- IOO .IOS

IIO

proved stand for that purpose, which consists, essentially, ot' a U-shaped clip O,which spans the side of the bed-frame, the ends of the U being projected beyond the inner face of the frame. An arm P at one end is turned down and passed through an opening in the clip and engages the lower end of the U of the clip, which lower end is slightly turned up at 0, against which turned-up portion the end of the pivotal portion of the arm engages. This forms a secure device for holding the arm in place. On the outer end of the arm is a suitable table or tray Q.

In vconnection with certain surgical operations it is necessary to have certain feetbraces for the patient. To this end I have provided suitable stirrups R, the same being fastened with downwardly-extending points r, which normally rest back of the rear end bar of the section D. The forward endsof these stirrups are bent outwardly at right angles and take into holes formed in the sides of the section D. These stirru ps are intended to be used after the section E has been removed in the manner above stated.

I-Iaving thus described the invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In an invalid-bed, the combination with a bed-frame, of a foot-board having a hinged upper section, and a pivoted. top rail on the hinged section arranged to be adjusted into a perpendicular position to maintain the hingedsection in a horizontal position, substantially as described.

2. In an inva1id-bed,t.he combination with a bed-frame, of a bottom consisting of three movable sections, means for pivotally securing the head-section to the frame, a swinging pivotal connection between the head-section and central section, a lock for preventing a pivotalV movement of the connection, and means for preventing an independent movement of the foot-section and central section, substantially as described.

3. In an invalid-bed, the combination with a frame, of a bottom consisting of three Inovable sections, a pivotal connection between vthe head-section thereof and the frame, means for maintaining the head-section at dierent inclinations, a central section, a pivoted swinging connection between the head-section and central section, spring-actuated bolts for preventing the movement of said pivoted connection, a link connection between the frame and the center section, and means for maintaining the foot and center sections in adjusted positions,substantially as described.

4. In an invalid-bed, the combination with a frame, of the bedbottom consisting of three movable-sections, a pivotal connection between the frame and the head-section of the bottom, a link connection between the center section and the head connection, means for locking the head-section and center section together, a link connection between the frame and center section, and a detachable connection between the foot-section and center section, substantially as described.

5. In an invalid-bed, the combination with a frame, of bottom sectionconsisting of three movable sections, means for maintaining all of the sections in alinement and in a horizontal position in the frame, a link connection between the head-section and the central section of the bottom, a removable connection between the head-section and center section, and removable central sectional bottom in the central section having projecting plates for maintaining the bottom sections of the central section in position, substantially as described.

6. In an invalid-bed, the combination with the frame, of a bottom consisting of three movable sections, means for maintaining the sections in adj usted positions, removable apertured supports in the central section of a length less than the length of the space between the end bars of the central section, and pivoted extensions on the apertured supports for engaging the ends of the said section, substantially as described.

7.` In an invalid-bed, the combination with the frame and bed-bottom consisting of three movable sections, a pivotal connection between the head-section and frame, a link connection between the central section and headsection, link connections between the central section and the frame, a hinge connection between the foot-section and the central section, and pivoted bars on the foot-section arranged to project below the central section, substantially as described.

8. The combination with the sectional bedbottom, of stirrups R having the depending portions fr, and lateral angular extensions at their ends engaging the sides of the bottom, and a detachable connection between the central section, and foot-section of the bottom, substantially as described.

9. In an invalid-bed, the combination with IOO a frame and bottom, of a table consisting i ABU AH BENJAMIN BENNETT.

Witnesses:

B. W. WILLIAMS, A. P. COLLIER. 

